Eyeglass construction



Nov. 9, 1937. G. E. NERNEY EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 4, 1954 INVENTOR 9607' 6 EJVerne Mata ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,098,513 EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION George E. Nerney,

Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Bay State Optical Company, Attleboro, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application January 4,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an eyeglass construction and more particularly to the construction of a frame known as an Oxford frame.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an eyeglass construction which may be economically manufactured with a minimum amount of labor. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will be exceedingly durable, simple and practical. An-

other object is to provide a construction of the above character which may be easily assembled and made ready for use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which will be light, graceful, and pleasing in appearance. Another object is to provide a con.-

struction of the above character which may be worn with a maximum amount of comfort. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which is adequately safeguarded against damage while in use and in which the connections between certain of the parts thereof are strengthened against severance while in use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists inthe features of construction, combinations of elements. and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a frame having the features of my invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the frame shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmg.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might here be pointed out that the production ofoxford frames free from certaininherent weaknesses has been beset with difiiculties. Many oxford frames include a spring bridge piece secured to the top portions of the two rims and bridging the space therebetween. This spring piece serves to force the opposing nose-engaging members against the sides of the nose to hold the in position thereon. However, in order to place the frame upon the nose it is necessary to spread the rims or move the two nose-engaging memframe 1934,"Serial No. 105,174

bers away from each other against the action of the spring. This exerts a very great strain on the points of connection between the spring and the lenses. Over a period of time as this continues, one of these connections often breaks many times damaging the frame beyond repair. If, on the other hand, these points of connection are made large and strong enough to withstand these unusual stresses, the result isusually an unsightly frame, unduly heavy and cumbersome in appearance. One of the objects of this invention is to provide an oxfordframe free from the above difliculties as well as many others.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a frame including a pair of rims l0 and II within which are disposed a pair of lenses l2 and 13. Rims l0 and H may be of any construction suitable for holding lenses I2 and I3 and are also split at points 14 and I5 so that the lenses may be inserted or removed therefrom.

Bridging the space between rims I0 and H is a part 16 preferably resilient in character. Preferably the opposite ends of part 16 are formed into cylindrical portions 16a and [6b, the interiors of which are suitably threaded. As shown in Figure 1, part I6 is in contact with the top portions of rims l0 and H for a considerable distance. However part It is preferably only secured to rims l0 and II in the vicinity of portions 16a, and Nib thereof. The connection between portions ita and I61) and rims l0 and H may be of any desirable character such as a solder connection or a weld. Also portions Him and Nib preferably occupy a position on rims ill and II spaced exteriorly of the center line of lenses !2 and i3 and below the tops of the rims as viewed in Figure 1. For purposes of clarity, I refer hereinafter to a spaced point which signifies that point on a rim occupied by portion Ilia or portion Nib or in the proximity thereof.

Suitably secured to rims l0 and II respectively are a pair of nose-engaging elements generally indicated at H and 18. Thus nose-engaging elements I1 and it have their lower depending ends 19 and 20 secured to the rims and extend outwardly therefrom into a shape suitable for engaging the opposite sides of the nose. The upper portions 2! and 22 thereof extend inwardly and are preferably secured to the upper portions of rims l0 and H from farther in an upward direction to preferably form eyes or loops 23 and 24 through which part l6 extends. Thus loops 23 and 24 serve to hold part It down in engagement with the top portions of rims l0 and II.

which points they extend tween portions A pair of eyelets 25 and 26 are secured to ends Illa and Ila of rims I 0 and H opposite portions Ito and lib and in registry therewith. Extending through eyelets 25 and 26 and threaded into portions ita and l6b are a pair of screws 21 and 28, thus to hold the rims and lenses in assembled relation. Accordingly an easy means is provided for inserting or removing the lenses from the rims as desired. Preferably rim III has secured thereto a handle piece-29.

When rims I ll and II when they are moved elements I1 and i8 move away from each other, there is no strain at the point of connection beiBa and I62? and the rims. This is mainly due to the fact that part ii is held down in contact with the rims by loops 23 and 24 regardless of the amount of bending of part ii to place the frame on the nose. Thus the upper portions of the nose guards or the loops 23 and 24 bear the brunt of strain and stresses during this spreading movement, and, as these parts are strongly secured to the rim at more than one point, the frame is adequately protected against breakage. Furthermore, even if my frame should be constructed without loop portions 23 and 24, the positioning of the points of connection of portions I60. and I 6b at the spaced point on the rim are spread, that is to say, so that nose-engaging acts as an adequate safeguard in itself against possible severance of part i 6 from one of the rims. Assuming this to be the case and assuming that the rims are spread as described above, there would be a tendency for part IE to bend about a point spaced inwardly from the points of connection with the rims, this being due to the fact that portions I 611 and i612 are located below the top portions of the lenses. Accordingly in this frame the connections between portions and I 6b and the rims are adequately protected and the frame is so constructed that in use these connections will not be subjected to any of the usual strains and stresses. Furthermore the frame presents a neat and pleasing appearance, and, due to the small number of parts, may be economically manufactured and assembled.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and eflicient construction in which the several objects hereinabove referred to as well as many others are successfully accomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a. pair of rims, a spring member bridging the space between said rims and connected to the tops of said rims at points spaced exteriorly of the vertical axes of said rims, and a pair of parts secured to said rims at points positioned inwardly from the connections of said spring member and said rims and connected to said spring member at points spaced inwardly from the points of engagement of said spring member and said rims.

2. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of rims, a spring part bridging the space between said rims and connected to said rims at points spaced outwardly from the center line of said rims and below the top portions of said rims, and a pair of loops connected to said rims at points positioned inwardly from the connections of said spring part and said rims, said spring part extending through said loops whereby portions of said spring part are held in engagement with the top portions of said rims.

3. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of rims, a spring part bridging the space between said rims and connected to said rims at points spaced outwardly from the center line of said rims and below the top portions of said rims, and a pair of nose-engaging elements connected to said rims and having portions extending upwardly and connected to said spring part to hold said spring part in engagement with the top portions of said rims.

4. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of split rims, a spring member bridging the space between said rims and connected thereto, said spring member including portions contacting substantial portions of the tops of said rims, the ends of said spring member being substantially adjacent the ends of said rims, eyelets connected to the ends of said rims opposite the ends of said spring member, and screws extending through said eyelets and threaded into said ends of said spring member.

5. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of rims split substantially at points spaced above the transverse axes of said rims and exteriorly of their vertical axes when in nose-engaging position, a spring member bridging the space between said rims and connected to said rims at points substantially adjacent one of the ends of each of said rims, eyelets formed on the other ends of each of said rims, and securing parts extending through said eyelets and into the ends of said spring member.

6. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of rims, a spring part, means connecting each end of said part to one of said rims, said part including portions following and engaging at least half of the tops of said rims, and means secured to said rims and said spring part for preventing separation of said part from said rims upon said rims being forced away from one another prior to their positioning upon the nose of a wearer.

7. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a pair of lens holding devices, a closed loop member secured to each of said devices, and a substantially flat straight spring which passes through the loop members and has its respective ends soldered to the devices at points spaced from the loop members.

-8. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of rims, a loop member secured to each of said rims, and a spring which passes through the loop members and has its respective ends soldered to the rims at points spaced from the loop members.

9. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of lenses, a lens retaining member secured to each of said lenses, 2. spring part, means connecting the ends of said part respectively to said members, said part including portions registering with the top portions of said lenses, and means secured to said members and said parts for preventing said part from being forced out of registry with said lenses upon said lenses being forced away from one another prior to their positioning upon the nose of a wearer.

GEORGE E. NERNEY. 

